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The premise of this swinging Vegas picture is enough to carry it over its narrative rough spots. The unluckiest sap on the planet (William H. Macy) is employed as a "cooler" at a casino; his very presence can chill the hot streak of any patron on a roll. He's valued by the old-school manager of the place, a role given a two-fisted, bourbon-swilling incarnation by Alec Baldwin. Macy means to quit, but then he falls for a waitress (the excellent Maria Bello, fromPermanent Midnight)--might his luck be changing? The subplots are pretty much a mess, but the frank sex scenes between Macy and Bello give the movie a truly offbeat feel. The tawdry air of a second-rate casino is also nicely done: This is not the new family-friendly Las Vegas, but a tough place of superstitions, sinister back rooms, and shabby motels. The characters are perfectly at home.--Robert Horton
My Bloody Valentine I hate to sound like a prude. There are already enough parent groups or religious groups crying out against sex, violence, and profanity in the movies, and I don't want to be lumped in with them. If a movie calls for liberal doses of skin, blood, or the F word, then its filmmakers should be true to that vision. "Last Tango in Paris," "Raging Bull," Roman Polanski's "Macbeth" -- these are all great films (to name only three) that contain controversial content which I would not want altered. The key ingredient here is that the subject matter and artistic integrity called for such a gritty take on the material.
I can't say the same about Wayne Kramer's "The Cooler." When I first heard about the film, I was intrigued by the premise: A lonesome loser's luck is so bad that he's hired by a casino to spread his misfortune to the gamblers -- only to have his luck (and that of the gamblers) turn around once he falls in love. This is a magical love-story idea worthy of great romantic-comedy directors like Frank Capra, Preston Sturges, and Billy Wilder. What's so magic -- and romantic -- about the idea is the affirmation that love casts its own strange spell over the world that can make miracles come true. The premise of "The Cooler" promised to convey this positive message: When you're in love, the world is a better place.
But instead of a romantic comedy in the tradition of Capra, Sturges, and Wilder, "The Cooler" seems more influenced by Sam Peckinpah and Martin Scorsese. The sex, blood, and salty language of the casino's underworld milieu eclipse the romance between William H. Macy and Maria Bello. The grittiness of the movie's Mafia elements may communicate how desperately the Macy and Bello characters need to escape the casino, but it also interferes with allowing the romantic elements to shine. A love born of brutality and deception is difficult to either empathize with or root for. By toning down the sex, violence, and profanity to a PG-13 level -- and perhaps delaying the physical relationship betwen Macy and Bello till later in the story -- "The Cooler" could have set a more magical atmosphere for its reality-defying premise to flourish. Also -- at the risk of sounding like a studio accountant -- I believe that the natural audience for "The Cooler" might have been older romantic-comedy fans who would be put off by the movie's R-rated aspects.
Those who disagree with me -- those who think that the film is enhanced by its seamy take on the premise -- might point out that even Sturges' and Wilder's romantic comedies sometimes had very cynical edges. But, I would reply, these edges did not overwhelm the romance. "The Cooler" is not in that tradition. Kramer's film could have still communicated how harrowing the casino's back rooms were without being so graphic. By doing so, he could have allowed the audience to concentrate on the love story and how the heart is mightier than the sword. I'm not questioning Kramer's *right* to make such a dark film, but I don't think that this darkness is right for the material.
I came to "The Cooler" expecting a valentine. What I got instead was a ripped-out heart still dripping blood.
There is hope for every underdog, now... ...if William H. Macy can win the heart of Maria Bello, then just about anything is possible! Actually, I'm being a bit tongue and cheek. What Bello's character is is sweet and with a good heart, looking for the same. Macy, the cooler at a decidedly seventies throw back casino, has a great heart and, in the end, deserves no less than the sparkling Bello. There are some other good performances in the movie, as well. Alec Baldwin can't be topped as Shelly, the casino owner that doesn't think anyone can run a casino like he can. Paul Sorvino has a small part, also, that puts him in a little more of a vulnerable situation than we usually see him. There is a little violence and some fairly strong sexuality in the movie, so the R rating is warrented.I really like this movie and would probably give it 4 stars, but since I think the 3 1/2 stars it has as an average is too little, I'll give it 5 stars.More than just another gambling movie If you like movies, as I do, about Las Vegas, gambling, grifters, mobsters, harvard-educated wise-guy mobsters, and hookers with a heart of gold, then you'll like this one. William Macy is perfect in the role of the professional loser, who is employed by casino owner Alec Baldwin to "cool" down the hot winners at his casino. The improbable premise of the movie is that Macy's mere presence at the gambling table suffices to make everyone lose. Macy has created a very interesting and unusual trademark character, also seen in Fargo and Boogie Nights, among other movies. Maria Bello is luminous as the cocktail waitress who falls for him, and Alec Baldwin gives depth and complexity to the casino owner/mobster.
But this movie is more that just another gambling/crime movie; it's really about true friendship and love despite all the odds. There are a couple of interesting plot twists turns to add excitement. Some of the plot actions are not realistic, as I mentioned above, which reduces the overall impact. But overall this is a quite memorable movie which is well worth seeing once.
